High Protein Mac & Cheese

GF NF SF Oct 27, 2024

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I bet you've never had a healthy mac and cheese before. This dish is still cheesy and creamy while packing over 42 g of protein in 500 calories per serving. You can add even more bulk by adding more vegetables like peppers or broccoli, but I wanted to keep it more traditional here. To elevate this, make it a BBQ Mac & Cheese with Date Sweetened Ketchup or Unsweetened BBQ Sauce, or top it with breadcrumbs and broil the top until crispy!

PASTA
- 8.8 ounce (249 g) Red lentil pasta

PROTEIN
- 1 tsp (5 g) Extra virgin olive oil
- 2 medium (220 g) Onion
- 1 tsp (6 g) Salt
- 1.3 lb (590 g) Ground turkey, 93/7
- 1 tbsp (10 g) Chili powder
- 1 tsp (3 g) Black pepper, ground

CHEESE SAUCE
- 8 oz (226 g) Nonfat cottage cheese
- 1 1/4 cup (140 g) Shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup (240 g) Skim milk
- 4 tbsp (20 g) Nutritional yeast
- 1 1/2 tbsp (12 g) Cornstarch
- 1 tbsp (10 g) Paprika
- 1/2 tbsp (4.5 g) Garlic powder
- 1/2 tbsp (4.5 g) Onion powder

TOPPING (OPTIONAL)
- 1/4 cup (60 g) Date sweetened ketchup
- 1/4 cup (28 g) Shredded cheddar cheese

1. Cook your pasta according to instructions. Strain, rinse with cold water, and set aside

2. Meanwhile, preheat a large pan over medium heat with oil. Cut your onions into a small dice, and add to the pan with salt. Cover, and cook until translucent, about 5-8 minutes

3. Add the meat to the pan, and cook until no longer pink. Season with chili powder and black pepper. Remove from the heat

4. Meanwhile, prepare your cheese sauce by blending together all the ingredients - cottage cheese, shredded cheese, milk, nutritional yeast, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika

5. Combine the cheese sauce and pasta with the meat in a 9x13" casserole pan. Top with shredded cheese, and optionally top with BBQ sauce or breadcrumbs as well

6. Cover, and bake at 400F until bubbly. This will take about 10 minutes if baking right away, or 30 minutes if preparing ahead of time, refrigerating, and baking later

7. To meal prep this - split the dish into 6 servings, add some roasted veggies on the side, cover, and refrigerate

https://www.poormanprotein.com/recipes/mac-and-cheese

Servings: 6
Calories: 486
Protein: 42 g
Fat: 19 g
Carbs: 38 g
Fiber: 7 g

Description

Time

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Cook Time:

40 minutes

Total Time:

1 hour

Cost

Total Cost:

Cost per Serving:

$2.23

Ingredients

Serving(s)

Pasta

8.8 ounce Red lentil pasta

Protein

1 tsp Extra virgin olive oil

2 medium Onion

1 tsp Salt

1.3 lb Ground turkey, 93/7

1 tbsp Chili powder

1 tsp Black pepper, ground

Cheese Sauce

8 oz Nonfat cottage cheese

1 1/4 cup Shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup Skim milk

4 tbsp Nutritional yeast

1 1/2 tbsp Cornstarch

1 tbsp Paprika

1/2 tbsp Garlic powder

1/2 tbsp Onion powder

Topping (optional)

1/4 cup Date sweetened ketchup

1/4 cup Shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

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Cook your pasta according to instructions. Strain, rinse with cold water, and set aside
Meanwhile, preheat a large pan over medium heat with oil. Cut your onions into a small dice, and add to the pan with salt. Cover, and cook until translucent, about 5-8 minutes

Add the meat to the pan, and cook until no longer pink. Season with chili powder and black pepper. Remove from the heat

Meanwhile, prepare your cheese sauce by blending together all the ingredients - cottage cheese, shredded cheese, milk, nutritional yeast, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika

Combine the cheese sauce and pasta with the meat in a 9x13" casserole pan. Top with shredded cheese, and optionally top with BBQ sauce or breadcrumbs as well

Cover, and bake at 400F until bubbly. This will take about 10 minutes if baking right away, or 30 minutes if preparing ahead of time, refrigerating, and baking later

To meal prep this - split the dish into 6 servings, add some roasted veggies on the side, cover, and refrigerate

Nutrition Facts